Miles Gloriosus
Plautus, Titus Maccius
Plautus. The Comedies of Plautus, Volume 1. Riley, H. T., translator. London: G. Bell and Sons, Ltd., 1912.
- to PYRGOPOLINICES. How renowned you are among the fair
- to PALAESTRIO. I shall submit, since Venus wills it so.
- aloud. By heavens! I return to Venus grateful thanks, and her I do beseech and entreat, that I may win him whom I love and whom I seek to win, and that to me he may prove gentle, and not make a difficulty about what I desire.
- aloud. I hope it may be so; although many ladies are seeking to win him for themselves, he disdains them and estranges himself from all but you alone.
- aloud. Therefore this fear torments me, since he is so disdainful, lest his eyes, when he beholds me, should change his sentiments, and his own gracefulness should at once disdain my form.
- aloud. He will not do so; be of good heart.
- to PALAESTRIO. How she does slight herself!
- aloud. I fear lest your account may have surpassed my looks.
- aloud. I’ve taken care of this, that you shall be fairer than his expectations.
- aloud. Troth, if he shall refuse to take me as his wife, by heavens I’ll embrace his knees and entreat him! If I shall be unable to prevail on him, in some way or other, I’ll put myself to death. I’m quite sure that without him I cannot live.